Slatted roller blind with swivelling slats



Sept. 23, 1958 w; A. BECHTLER 2,853,130

SLATTED ROLLER BLIND WITH SWIVELLING SLATS Filed Aug. 22, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v I as 5 INVENTOR %Zffi $05695 $60716? ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofiice SLATTED ROLLER BLIND WITH SWIVELLING SLATS Walter Andreas Bechtler, Zurich, Switzerland, assignor to Metallbau A. G., Zurich-Albisrieden, Switzerland, a company of Switzerland Application August 22, 1950, Serial No. 180,753 Claims priority, application Switzerland June 15, 1950 6 Claims. (Cl. 160-133) I This invention relates to a blind for windows and the like, and refers more particularly to a roller blind provided with swivelling slats.

An object of the present invention is to improve blinds heretofore in use and to provide a blind which is etfective in operation and easy to manufacture.

In accordance with the present invention it was found desirable to provide a slatted roller blind with parallel, swivelling slats which, by means of cords, webs or straps, are interconnected among themselves and at the same time connected to the winding mechanism ,the latter being at the same time designed to act as a swivelling mechanism. Another object of the present invention, is to provide a blind which is simple and reliable in design, and is versatile in application.

The object of the invention is characterized by the fact that only the draw cords or webs, assigned to the movement of one edge of the slats, serving for rolling up and rolling down the slats and also encompassing the swivelling of said slats, are secured to the winding roller in a manner calculated to produce the swivelling motion of the slats as a result of the rotary motion of the winding roller, that at least the uppermost of the slats to be swivelled is, when the blind has been let down, rotatably supported in its pivotal axis at least two points on supporting members which are stationary during the swivelling operation, and that the spacing cords or webs assigned to the other edges of the slats, which cords or webs connect the supported slats to the others, serve essentially only as means codetermining the spacing of the slats.

In the annexed drawing several typical embodiments of of the invention are schematically represented. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows a cross-section through a window-opening with a slatted roller blind in a first embodiment,

Fig. 2 is an elevation of a part of the slatted roller blind to Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 3 shows a cross-section through a part of a slatted roller blind in a second embodiment,

Fig. 4 shows a cross-section through a part of a slatted roller blind in a third embodiment,

Fig. 5 is a cross-section through the upper part of a window opening with a slatted roller blind in a fourth embodiment,

Fig. 6 is a cross-section through a door opening with a slatted roller blind in a further embodiment,

Fig. 7 is a cross-section through the winding device and the upper portion of a slatted roller blind,

Fig. 8 is a perspective elevation of several details of the slatted roller blind,

Fig. 9 is the elevation of the bottom portion of the slatted roller blind to Fig. 6,

Fig. 10 is a section through further details of the slatted roller blind, and

Fig. 11 is an elevation of a guide rail having an adjustable stop according to one embodiment of the invention.

Corresponding parts are designated by the same ref- 'erence numerals in the various figures.

- ling device.

Patented Sept. 23, 1958 Fig. 1 shows schematically the arrangement of a slatted roller blind, in section, in a window opening indicated by the window lintel 10, 11, the window sill 13, and the frame 12. The slatted roller blind casing with the winding mechanism is built into the window lintel, said mechanism essentially comprising the roller 4, the strap pulley 5 connected thereto, and the winding strap 6 guided in the interior of the space to be screened otf by the slatted roller blind. The cords or webs 2 serving for winding up and swivellng the slats 1 are so secured to the winding member that a pull exerted on the winding strap 6 is positively transmitted to the pull-cords, straps or webs 2. The uppermost swivelling slat 1 is rotatably mounted by means of pivots 9 on supports 8 secured laterally to the window framing, as shown in Fig. 2. p

The slats 1 are so interconnected by two groups of cords, webs or straps 2 and 3 that they are held in mutually parallel positions. The cords, webs or straps 3 belonging to one of these groups so connect the slats that they receive, when the slats are pivoted, no direct moving impulse from the winding member designed as the swivel- Provided these cords, webs or straps 3 are secured in the pivotal axis of the slats themselves, they describe no movement during the swivelling process, but serve essentially only to interconnect and space the slats. In so far, on the other hand, as they are secured externally to the pivotal axis of the slats, as is the case with webs or straps 2, they transmit, when swivelled, the tilting movement of the one slat edge to the corresponding edges of the remaining slats. In this case they receive the moving impulse from the uppermost swivelling slat to which they are secured, and thus likewise serve essen tially for spacing the slats. They are therefore described in the following, for simplicitys sake, as spacing webs, and are clearly assigned to the one group of slat edges.

The straps or webs 2 appertaining to the other group, which straps receive their moving impulse direct from the winding member, take care, on the other hand, of the winding up of the slats 1 and furthermore determine the swivelled or pivotal position thereof. They are accordingly assigned to the other slat edge, and are naturally always secured externally to the pivotal axis of the slats. In the following they will, for simplicitys sake, be referred to as pull-webs.

To ensure that the pivot 9 of the uppermost swivelling slat slides with certainty into the support 8 when the roller blind is let down, the pull-webs 2 run over a guide pulley 7 which is mounted laterally in the blind casing; for the same reason at least one arm of the support 8 is extended beyond the line of fall. It will be seen from Fig. 1 that When the operating strap 6 is completely loosened the slats, as a result of their intrinsic weight, swivel downwards by their inner edges, i. e. the edges near the window frame 12, until the edges of the slats overlap in the manner of roofing tiles. In this position the room is completely screened from view from an obliquely inferio-r position. If a pull is now exerted on the strap 6, the slats 1 pivot from their bottom position first gradually into the horizontal position shown in the upper portion of Fig. 1, and, if the pull is continued, into the position of upward inclination indicated in the bottom portion of Fig. 1, and finally to such an extent that the edges of the adjacent slats again overlap like scales. In this position the room is completely screened from light arriving from outside, and in particular from light impinging obliquely from above. In this connection, pivoting of the slats takes place about the pivotal axis determined by the position of the pivot 9 for the uppermost pivoting slat, to which, for the other slats, a pivotal axis determined by the position of the webs 2 and 3 corresponds.

If the pull on the strap 6 is still continued in the direction indicated by the arrow, the slats 1 are lifted bodily by the pull-webs 2 and then rolled up on the roller 4. Thus the winding member serves simultaneously as the swivelling device for the slats.

The separate slats are, to advantage, guided laterally, preferably in slide rails 15 as represented in Fig. 3. For this purpose the slats are provided at their ends with guide pins 17 or other suitable members designed to engage in the guide rails, which pins or other members slide in the rails 15 when the blind is raised or lowered.

Preferably, the top portion of the slide rail is so designed that it serves at' the same time as a support for the pivots of the topmost swivelling slat, so, for instance, that the two cheeks of the guide rail are spaced further apart, as shown at 16 in Fig. 3. In this case a larger cross-section will be selected for the pivot 9a than for the opening of the guide rail and for the pins 17, to be guided in the rail, of the remaining slats, so that when the blind is let down the pivot 9a of the topmost swivelling slat is retained in the widened top portion 16 of the slide rail 15.

In order to be able to adapt the height of the guide pin 9b in Figure 11 to the existing circumstances when fitting the slatted roller blind it is expedient to be able to adjust the carrier members. For this purpose, in the embodiment shown in Figure 11 a stop-member 34 is secured by clamping screws 35 inside the top, widened portion 16b of the guide rail 1517. At this point the guide rail is provided with longitudinal slots, not shown in the drawing, so that the stop member 34 can be moved upwards or downwards and fixed in the desired position by means of the clamping screws 35. The stop member 34 leaves open in the rail a sufiiciently wide slot to enable the guide pins 17b of the slats to slide past, but preventing the passage of the bearing pin 9b, whose dimensions are larger.

Another method of adjusting the carrier members is shown in Fig. 4, where the bearing pins 9c rest on the carrier strap 22 when the blind is lowered. This strap is adjustable and can, for instance, be moved into the position 2211 shown in dot-dash outline. This positioning and fixation in the desired position are effected by means of the wing nuts 26, 27, which co-operate with the connecting member 25. The connecting member can be moved along in the slot 24 provided in the supporting member 23 secured, for instance, to the window framing, and can be clamped tight at the desired level and in the desired pivotal position. In addition, the strap 22 can be shortened or lengthened in the appurtenant guide slot by means of the wing nut 27.

The position of the pivotal axis of the top swivelling slat can, however, be determined by still other means, namely by means of retaining cords or webs 28 (Fig. which are secured to the uppermost swivelling slat and so connected to the winding member that their free length does not change during the rotary movement of the winding member performed by the latter in order to produce the swivelling movement of the slats. In Fig. 5 the retaining cord 28 is secured by one end to the top swivelling slat and by the other to the ring 29. The latter is so fitted in a recess in the winding roller 4d as to be freely rotatable in relation to the roller 4d to the extent permitted by the stop 31 sliding in the groove 30. The arrangement is such that the rotary movement of the roller 4d to the extent necessary to swivel the slats is not positively transmitted to the ring 29, so that during the swivelling process the free length of the retaining cords is neither reduced nor increased. As soon, however, as on further rotation of the roller 4d the blind is lifted, the stop 31 encounters the end of the groove 30, so that the ring 29 is likewise driven in the direction of winding up and the retaining cord is accordingly wound up also.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 6 the retaining cord 36 is secured at the axis of rotation of the winding roller 4b, said roller being provided at the appropriate points with segmental recesses 38. These recesses are so designed that the free length of the retaining 4 cords or lines 36 is not varied during the swivelling process, but when the blind is rolled up the retaining cords 36 are rolled up with it. In this a in the preceding embodiment, the pull-webs 2b are attached direct to the periphery of the roller 4b.

In the embodiment to Fig. 7 the retaining cords or lines 45 are secured to the winding roller 4 of the winding device, said roller being, however, freely rotatable, as far as the stop 47 running in the groove 46, in relation to that part 5 of the winding device in which the pull-webs 2, 2a a e secured. By the method of attachment of the pull-webs 2 and the retaining cords to the winding member described in these three embodiments, the pull-webs and the retaining cords cross between their points of attachment to the top swivelling slat and to the winding member respectively. They are therefore preferably so arranged as to provide lateral spacing between them.

The length of the retaining cords or lines 28, 36, 45 can likewise be adjusted as required at the time the slatted roller blind is installed, this again providing a possibility of regulating the carrier members according to the requirements of fitting.

In general, the slatted roller blinds terminate at their lower extremities in non-swivelling cross-members 39 provided with arresting members 40 to determine their final position when the blind is completely wound up. This bottom cross-member, since it is to be drawn up with the slats, must be connected to the webs 2, 3. As Fig. 6 shows, connection to the pull-webs 2b is conveniently effected through swivelling arms 41 pivotally attached to the bottom cross-member 39 by means of the brackets 44. The swivelling arms 41 run in grooves orslots 42 and are acted upon by torsion springs 43 tending to force them downwards. The position 41a, shown in dot-dash outline, of the swivelling arm 41 corresponds to the pivotal position of the slats shown in the upper portion of Fig. 6, whilst the position shown in full outline corresponds to the closed position 1a of the slats shown in the lower portion of Fig. 6.

A particularly convenient arrangement of the swivelling arm 41 is provided when the pivotal axes determined by the brackets 44 are located at least approximately in the plane determined by the pivotal axes of the swivelling slats, and when, in addition, the swivelling arms 41 are of a length approximately equal to the distance between the pivotal axes of the slats and the points of attachment of the slatsto the pull-webs 212, for with such an arrangement the pivoting radius of the swivelling arms corresponds approximately to the appurtenant pivoting radius of the slats, and the webs 2b are guided parallel even in their lowermost section, this making a substantial contribution to the proper functioning of the same.

In order to be able to cause swivelling of the slats simply by slackening the strap 6 (Fig. 1) it is necessary for a downwardly-directed force to act upon that portion of the slats which is located towards the pull-webs and away from the pivotal axis. This force may, according to the disposition of the pivotal axis within the slats, be provided simply by the overbalance yielded by the embodiments to Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 7. It may also be provided, however, by the torsion spring 43, as shown in the embodiment seen on the lower portion of Fig. 6, exerting sufiicient pressure on the swivelling arms 41. In the embodiment to Fig. 5 the downwardly-acting force is provided by the arrangement whereby the spring 32 connected to the window frame, on which spring a projecting pin 33 secured to the edge of the slat rests, exerts an upward pull on said edge. In Fig. 6 a spring 37 is secured to the winding roller 4b, which spring presses in the direction of the arrow when the roller 4b is rotated in the appropriate direction, but is wound on to the roller 4b when the slatted roller blind is wound up. Springs or counterweights acting similarly to the organs provided in the aforementioned embodiments can, of course, be

fitted in other ways also, it being expedient, however, for the uppermost swivelling slats to be acted upon so that in the uppermost position of pivoting of the slats the edges of the slats are closely superimposed on each other and so that, for instance, no clearance is left between the bottom slats as a result of the inevitable discrepancies in the dimensions and caused by a force acting in a downward direction.

The light-tight closure of the slats can be further improved by suitable shaping of the slats, and more particularly of the slat edges. In the slats shown in Fig. 3 the longitudinal edges exhibit projections 18 and recesses 19 which, in the suppermost pivotal position 1a, fit into each other and thereby not only prevent any passage of direct light, but also render more difficult any unauthorized lifting of individual slats from the exterior.

In order to ensure perfect light-tightness at the sides also it is expedient so to lengthen one flange of the slide rails 15:: that it extends over the edge of the slats 12, as shown in Fig. 8. Where the pivotal axis does not coincide with one of the lengthwise edges of the slats, the extended flange 15a is provided with a shoulder.

Rolling up of the slats If on the roller 4 is facilitated where the slats 1) are of slightly curved or dished design with the concave surface so arranged that it faces the Winding roller 4 when the blind is being wound up, as

seen in Fig. 4. Where the slats are made of light-gauge material it is expedient to head their edges and to reinforce their ends by means of the end reinforcements 48 seen in Fig. 8, said end reinforcements at the same time bearing the guide pins or the bearing pins 9e and constituting firm members for the attachment of the webs 2e, 3e. For the rest, the slats may be of any desired shape and be made of any preferred material, and the pivotal axis may be located in a preferred position in relation to the edges of the slats.

The local conditions, such for instance as the features of the window lintel, may render it desirable for the topmost swivelling slat to be of different design from the remainder of the slats. In Fig. 6, for instance, an embodiment is shown in which on the one hand the slat is designed to overbalance in accordance with the principle already referred to, and in addition the slat is made narrower than the others so that it does not encounter the lintel when swivelling. It is also possible, however, to design the topmost slat in skeleton form only, reducing it to a supporting framework afiording the necessary attachment points for the webs, cords, lines, straps, or tapes etc. and provision for mounting in the pivotal axis.

The webs, strips, cords, bands, lines, straps, tapes, etc. (hereinafter for brevitys sake referred to as lines) can also take a variety of forms, such for instance as a wire or a fibre cord in which eyes 50 are inserted at the points of attachment to the slats, as is seen in the embodiment shown in Fig. 8. They may also take the form of openlink chains, as seen in Fig. 2, or of a strip or tape of metal, plastic, or fibrous material, as illustrated in Figs. 4, 8 and 9. In all cases the connection between the slats and the lines, is rotatable. When metal strips are used for the lines, said strips may be slit and the metal between the slits pressed outwards, as seen at 49 in Fig. 8, so as to embrace the guide pins or supporting pins 9e, 17s. A particularly convenient execution is seen in Fig. 4, where curved straps 20 embracing the pivot pins 21 attached to the slats are so inserted in recesses and depressions 14 in the line 2 as to form an eye, the side of the strip opposite to that on which the eye is located exhibiting no projections.

The eye illustrated in Fig. is provided with a tongue 51 which, after the curved strap 20g has been placed in position, is inserted in the hook 52 and safeguards the curved strap 20g against accidental detachment. Securing of the eye against detachment can also, of course, be eflected by special shaping of the eye or by the use of bracing means of other type.

a 6 I claim: 1. A slatted roller blind, comprising, in combination, a roller, a plurality of paraliel slats, a web member connected to said roller and to the inner edges of said slats, another web member adjacent said slats, guide pins upon the ends of said slats, a frame-carried guide rail receiving the ends of said guide pins, a bottom cross-' member suspended from the first-mentioned web member and a spring connected to said bottom cross-member and the first mentioned web member and exerting a downwardly directed pressure upon the inner edges of said slats.

2. A slatted roller blind comprising in combination, a roller, a plurality of slats, a web member connected to said roller and to the inner edges of said slats, guide pins extending from the ends of said slats, frame-carried guide rails for receiving the ends of said guide pins, 21 second web member interconnecting said slats substantially at the axis defined by said guide pins, and a retaining cord member connected to said roller and to the uppermost slat at the axis defined by the guide pins on said uppermost slat.

3. A slatted roller blind comprising in combination, a roller, a plurality of slats, a web member connected to vthe periphery of said roller and to the inner edges of each of said slats, frame-carried guide rails, guide pins extending from the ends of said slats adapted to be slidably and pivotally received in said guide rails, a second web member interconnecting said slats at points adjacent the pivotal axis defined by said guide pins, means forming a segmental recess in said roller, and a retaining cord member connected to said roller and to the uppermost slat at points adjacent the pivotal axis thereof, said cord extending through said recess to the axis of rotation of said roller and adapted to limit the downward movement of said uppermost slat.

4. A slatted roller blind comprising in combination, a roller, a plurality of slats, a first web member connected to said roller and the inner edges of each of said slats, frame-carried guide rails, guide pins extending from the opposite ends of each of said slats adapted to be slidably and pivotally received in said guide rails, a second web member interconnecting each of said slats substantially at their pivotal axes, a bottom cross-member suspended at its upper edge from the lower end of the second web member, means cooperating with the uppermost slat for limiting downward movement of said slats, a stop member carried by said bottom cross-member adapted to limit the downward movement thereof, an arm pivotally mounted on said bottom cross-member and connected at its free end to lower end of the first web member, and means resiliently urging said arm in a direction to impose a downward force on said first web member to assist in the opening movement of said slats.

5. A slatted roller blind comprising in combination, a horizontal roller, a plurality of slats substantially parallel to the axis of said roller, said slats having inner and outer edges, flexible web means connected to said roller and to the inner edges of said slats, guide pins extending substantially horizontally from the ends of said slats intermediate said inner and outer edges, guide rails adjacent the ends of the slats receiving said guide pins for sliding movement therein in sliding contact therewith, second flexible Web means interconnecting said slats substantially at the axis defined by said guide pins, said flexible web means being flexible and bendable between the connections to said slats said roller being positioned substantially directly above said slats, means for rotating said roller to raise and lower said slats, stop means for positioning the second flexible web means when said slats are in lowered position, whereby further movement of said roller causes said slats to open and close, said stop means comprising a third flexible web means connected to the topmost slat member substantially on the axis defined by the guide pins and to said roller and lost References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 277,971 Wrightsman May 22, 1883 g Johnstone June 22, 1920 Koller Oct. 16, 1934 Keller et al. Jan. 7, 1936 Brown Oct. 6, 1936 Loehr Dec. 30, 1941 Reid Jan. 25, 1944 Bretz et al Sept. 30, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Mar. 17, 1883 Germany July 9, 1884 

